Travel Style Part 2- What to Pack

Packing.  This is always an area of huge debate between travelers.  I know people who are adamant that they will only bring one carry on bag and nothing more, and I know people who prefer to check everything.  Personally, I'm a check everything girl.  I have a very small carry on for only immediately important plane stuff like skincare, coloring books, books, my phone, passport, etc, but other than that, I check everything. Why?  Because I bring a ton of stuff!  Deciding what to bring is one of the hardest aspects of travel, and is definitely an area that depends on personal preference.  Packing should always be based on what you want to do and the climate of the location you're going to. Here's a few of my tips for how to think about packing: 

1)  If you're going to be doing a lot of walking around, bring comfortable shoes.  For me, that usually means ballerina flats, or flat boots, I'm not a sneaker person. 

2)  Pack for the climate.  For London this year, I'm going to have some t-shirts and dresses, but also bring a few sweaters and pull overs because the UK can tend to get quite windy, especially at night.

3)  Bring enough so that if you cannot find a washing machine or laundromat, you will have enough clean clothing.  Also, try to bring pieces that can be used to make at least a few different outfits, not just one

4)  Do you plan to go out to anywhere fancy?  For some this can be a fancy dinner but for me this usually refers to bars, so I always bring a few cocktails dresses and one pair of black heels that can be used with any outfit.

So, as I mentioned above, I tend to overpack.  I just prefer to bring anything that I might need, I'm definitely not a travel with only the essentials girl.  To quote Lafayette from True Blood, "Packing light and being me don't mix".   First of all, make up is one of my hobbies and loves, so I always bring a rather large toiletry bag with my cosmetics in it.  It doesn't take up too much space thankfully, but can get a bit heavy.  I also always bring  3 pairs of shoes; a pair of flats, flat boots, and a pair of heels.  I wear my flat boots on the plane since I am always freezing on the plane and they're also usually the heaviest of all  shoes, so it makes sense to wear them instead of packing them.  Clothing I don't have a specific pattern for, but I always bring 2 large suitcases which I check.  I'm not worried about checking valuables or anything, I check everything except for my laptop, and always have my luggage locks on.  I really do not know how some people can only bring one carry on bag and that's it, that's like a magic trick to me!  I guess I'm just the type who needs a lot of stuff.  I'm also of the mindset that I would rather bring something with me than worry about possibly not being able to find it wherever I am going.  I always do vacation shopping and things, but it is rarely for something I really need.

However, as much as I tend to bring a lot, I do have my items organized in what I believe is a good way, and if anyone is struggling with organization, I can help.  I keep things in categories.  I always put electronics (wires, converter plugs, etc) in one section of my suitcase, often one of the pockets built into the bag itself so that I always know where they are.  Shoes are always together, socks are together, and anything remotely fragile I cocoon around a pile of clothes.  I never throw my make up bag on the top of my suitcase and close it because if it gets thrown, the make up will be absorbing all the impact, and can break.  Instead, I do a few clothing items, put my bag in, and put more clothing on top of it.  Do this for anything that is breakable, I've never had a problem with this method.  Also, wrap liquids.  I don't feel like dealing with the liquid restrictions, so for me it's easier to throw everything into a checked bag.  I am always worried about liquids opening in flight or something, so I always make sure to wrap them in Ziploc bags, and then in one big plastic bag so that if they do bust, your clothes and other items are safe.  Nail polish is another thing I have never had a problem with but I know many people are wary of packing.  What I do is take a small make up bag that can only hold about 4 bottles, and wrap 2 together with Ziplocs (2 in 1 bag) and then put those in another Ziploc containing paper towels, and wrap it up tightly.  Then I put that into the plastic make up bag which fits the polishes snugly, and zip it.  Then, just like with my make up, I sandwich the bag in between some clothing so that it is not taking any impacts.  The polishes are not clinking around, they are pretty secured in place, and have never exploded on me. 

I am far from a packing expert, so I cannot offer any tips for how to consolidate a fabulous travel wardrobe into only one small bag that can be carried on or checked.  I just bring everything, so I have to check my bags. I hope the few tips that I do have however will be helpful!  In the end, it all depends on your personal method of travel, and what you want to bring with you

Further proof that I bring everything...my cat, Spots, attempting to come with mommy!

Traveling Solo- For the Ladies

One of the things I see most often on travel forums or from friends and family is worry about being a woman traveling alone.  I've never let the fact that I'm a girl cause me any type of anxiety in reference to my travels, and I feel that most places are perfectly safe.  Unfortunately, I feel that fear is drilled into us from the time we're toddlers that we're the vulnerable sex and need protecting in certain situations.  I really don't think that any woman should be afraid to travel alone, but I'll share my experiences if they help to reassure anyone :)

As girls, and specifically if you dress up, there will always be unwanted attention.  This can happen in your home town too, not just on vacation.  The intensity varies from place to place, but it always occurs. I feel that it is what it is, and luckily no one has ever actually made me feel in danger.  When I get comments or creeps hanging around, I either pretend I don't speak English, completely do not acknowledge them or respond, or I get really, really nasty.  Don't mess with me. I may be blonde and like to wear skirts and make up, but if you push me too far I will give it right back and 10x worse.  I also always carry a small pocket knife (at home too) just in case anything ever gets too hairy, which it never has. I think it's wise to have either a small pocket knife or a small pepper spray etc just in case.  The pepper spray is probably the better thing to have, I know carrying a knife makes me sound crazy but it's also my grandpa's from the 50's, so I keep it for other reasons.  Again though, I have never had to physically defend myself in any way, anywhere.

Another important tip is to just be aware.  Don't do silly things or make silly decisions.  You don't need to hide in your hotel room as soon as the sun goes down, in fact I say get out and have fun!  Yes, I drink alone on vacation (although usually more with the friends I make) and I don't see anything wrong with this.  I'm on vacation to have fun!  What I don't do however is ever tell anyone that I'm completely alone or walk home late at night by myself.  I will always take a cab home, it is worth the extra charge.  As for the never revealing I'm alone, if anyone ever asks me, I say that either my boyfriend or my parents or my friends are back at the hotel sleeping and didn't want to come out.  Whether or not they believe me doesn't matter, they can't disprove it, and that might just be enough to scare a shifty character away.  Another thing I do for nightlife situations is always pick a local jump off bar.  Start at the same bar every night so that the staff can get familiar with you.  I usually start a conversation with the bartenders so that if anyone is ever hanging around too much and I have made it clear that I would like to be left alone, I stand by the bar and have someone to talk to.  I'm not saying depend on anyone to save you, or that your new bartender acquaintance will care terribly about you, but it helps to look like people are aware of you and will notice if you're in distress or something.  Believe it or not this has gotten me away from a few creeps over the years, usually because the bartenders will give them funny looks. 

You should always be somewhat aware of what areas to avoid in a city too, and this can easily be found by browsing travel forums. 

The other side for the single female traveler is a more lighthearted concern, which is usually "but how will it look?!"  Many ladies feel embarrassed about getting a drink alone, or eating a meal alone, or even just seeing a museum alone.  We can't all always be taken or with a friend! It's just not realistic. And I say, why should I miss out on a fabulous time just because no one else can go?  Please don't think that you look silly dining or drinking alone, there is nothing wrong with it, and I highly doubt anyone would even notice or stare at you or anything.  You get over these things rather quickly when you travel alone, and again, if you are a little nervous, make some friends!  You're never really "drinking alone" at a bar, there are always other people, and most places everyone is pretty friendly and open. Especially other travelers!  Step out of your comfort zone a bit, you might be surprised how much fun you have! 

* My opinions on dining or drinking alone are for places that I have been.  I have never been to a country where a woman alone is culturally unacceptable, like Saudi Arabia or something, so please keep in mind that if you are going someplace where women are not viewed the way they are in the USA or Europe, things may be different, and some places may be entirely unsafe for a woman traveling by herself, or any tourist (male or female) traveling alone.

"You're Going Alone?!" My Guide to Solo Travel

Whenever I mention that I'll be taking a solo vacation, I get met with the question above.  I've mentioned before that I'm a big fan of traveling by myself.  This is a scary concept to a lot of people, and it's understandable since everyone has a different comfort level and personality.  I've been traveling by myself for years, and while it was hard at first, I've actually come to prefer it. I know many people who have told me that they would never or could never travel alone, and either admire that I do, or worry about me.  I also know quite a few people who would like to give a solo trip a shot, but are hesitant due to their own concerns or those of others around them.  If you're considering taking a solo vacation, I'd like to share some of my experiences and tips that I hope will be helpful.

I'd like to first share how I got into traveling alone.  When I was 16, I moved to Palermo, Sicily for the summer to be with my boyfriend at the time.  We had met on an earlier vacation in April (2006) and had ended up having a long distance relationship.  Though once I got to Sicily I would be staying with him and his housemates, I had to fly out alone.  This was my first flight without a parent or friend, so this was my first dose of solo travel. I had only myself to rely on at the airport for changing planes and getting a taxi, etc.  The following year, my friend Steve and I went Nice, France, by ourselves.  I was still with a friend, but we got our own apartment and it was just the two of us.  At 17, this was fantastic! In 2009 I went to Rome, and would initially be going alone if it wasn't for my friend who was actually able to come last minute.  However, he wouldn't be able to stay the full 2 weeks, so the trip would be half and half.  He stayed for 5 days, and then I was completely alone for the other 9.  I don't recommend this setup since it is incredibly hard to have someone with you and them have them leave.  Have them come for the second part of a trip so that you are alone for the first half instead. Anyway, after all these training wheel trips, I was finally left alone in Rome, and so began my conversion to solo traveler.  The following summer is when I went to Paris for a month completely by myself, and I haven't looked back since! Sicily, Nice, and Rome trained me, and Paris put on the finishing touches.  If you can do this gradual progression, I think it helps a lot with attempting to travel alone. 

To start, here are some of the pros and cons of traveling alone:

Pros

- Your own agenda. You don't have to answer to anyone or compromise on anything that you want to see or do. It's what you want, when you want it, all the time. 

- You're more open to meeting new people since you're not with anyone else.  Solo travel to me never means that I'm completely alone, but more that I'm not bringing anyone with me.  I always make new friends when I travel. 

- You can get more immersed into a place.  When you don't have anyone familiar with you, it's just you and your destination, no middle man

Cons

- Solo travel can be lonely.  This is unavoidable, there will definitely be times that you wish you had someone with you

- The cost is all on you, no one to split anything with, like hotel bills

Personally, I love the freedom of traveling by myself.  This is the biggest selling point for me, since I can do whatever I want.  I am not a morning person, I don't want to have to get up at 7am on vacation for anyone. I'm good with waking up whenever I wake up and then seeing sights or going out etc.  I also like to be able to see what I want to see in a place.  Sometimes that even means a day of no sights at all where instead I wander around and do some shopping.  I don't have to do everything in a place.  I was in Paris for a month and never got out to Versailles because I was too busy just enjoying the city.  To some people, that would be blasphemy!  Since I was alone however, my schedule was entirely up to my desires that day. 

Planning a solo trip is also much easier than planning a trip with another person.  When I say I want to go somewhere, I'm serious, and will probably be making bookings soon, I'm not asking rhetorically.  A lot of times, if I ask my friends if they would like to come, I get wishy washy answers like, "maybe" "I'll see" or the one I hate the most, "yeah I'd go", but then they never actually get their act together.  If I do find a friend to accompany me, there is always the issue of where to stay and budget differences.  I do a lot of research before I travel and pick an area to stay in that I feel is best suited for me.  I also am aware of what the area in question will cost.  I'm the type of person who would rather pay a little more for a central location than save some money and be farther away from everything.  My travel companions don't always agree with this, and occasionally, can be very disillusioned about the realistic costs of a city.  For example, to me, $300 for 3 days in a Marais apartment in Paris is a fantastic price.  If you're thinking you'll get a central location like that for less, you're going to be seriously disappointed.  You won't get the central address if you're adamant about not spending more than 100$ for the weekend.  Everyone has a different budget, but I personally get annoyed if I am with someone who is, in my opinion, too conservative with their funds to the point where it hinders the experience of a trip.  Vacation to me is a time to splurge a little if you can, and it's hard if your partner feels differently.  It's also difficult to find someone that you can agreeably travel with.  We all have those friends that we love dearly, but could never be alone together with for more than a day.  You really don't want to be stuck on a long vacation with someone who gets on your nerves too much.

As I mentioned, I always meet new people when I travel solo.  This is my favorite aspect of it. I go alone, but I never stay alone, I have always made friends, many of whom I am still in contact with today.   It's easy to be more introverted when you are traveling with a companion, because you can be.  When you're alone, if you want socialization, you'll have to go find it for yourself.  I'm a very shy person, so I like that this makes me get out of my comfort zone and grow as a person.  Traveling alone can be lonely, there is no denying that fact, but if you make friends I guarantee you will beat the loneliness!  You then have the option of doing activities with your new acquaintances or continuing to do things on your own.  I usually might go to a museum or two with my new friends, but mostly we meet up at night, after our days alone, to go check out some nightlife. 

Traveling solo is a fantastic experience, and I highly encourage everyone to give it a try if they feel like they would enjoy it!  It's daunting at first, but eventually it becomes second nature. 

My Random Travel Tips

Hi everyone!  This post is a bit random, I just wanted to share a bunch of my best travel tips that cover all different areas you may be curious about

1)  Electrical items when traveling abroad.  Most electronics are fine in other countries as long as you have an adapter plug (I get mine from Magellan's) so that you can actually plug it into an outlet, but some require extra attention.  For large items like laptops, I suggest ordering a surge protector adapter which also "grounds" the connection.  I am not an engineer, so I don't know exactly what that means in technical terms but it is basically a larger adapter (usually with 2 slots) that protects your laptop from any differences in electrical voltage or power surges, which can be common in some countries. 

Secondly, heat items.  For me, this is mainly hair tools like straighteners, curling irons, etc.  Do not try to bring your hair tools and plug them in, even with an adapter and a voltage converter.  I have broken 3 different hair straighteners over the years using adapters and converters, even ones "specially made for use with heat products" apparently it wasn't!  I suggest just buying new tools in whatever country you're visiting, and that way you can always bring them with you when you travel in the area again.  I have a UK straightener and an EU straightener, both purchased from local drugstores, that I always bring with me when I'm going to Europe or the UK.  Since the items are for a shorter time, you don't need to splurge on a hugely expensive top of the line one either, I think my UK one was about 20$

2)  Shopping.  I love to shop, and I love to explore stores in different countries, particularly ones that we don't have in the US.  However, you should be mindful of what you are buying when it comes to certain items, since the pricing is usually different country to country.  Try to focus on items that you can't get back home, and if you are running low on something from a brand based in your home country, try to repurchase before leaving (if you are bringing it with you) rather than purchasing a refill in your destination city.  I say this because I ran out of my Laura Mercier face powder in Dublin and bought a refill in Brown Thomas which ended up being at least 20$ more than it would have been in the US.  Look out for things like that!

On a more positive note, sometimes foreign branches of US stores have different items than you may be used to, so take a look!  I always find awesome things in Italian Zaras that I never see in the ones here.  I've gotten some of my favorite pieces in the store on Via del Corso in Rome. 

3)  Beating jet lag.  If you arrive in your vacation city in the morning or afternoon, push yourself to complete the day before going to sleep.  Jet lag is awful, and I'm always a zombie when I get off a plane, but you'll be in much better shape if you can try to get on a normal schedule and adjust to the new location's time.  Try to not go to bed before 7 or 8pm if you can possibly manage it.  This way, if you do get up early, it won't be 2 or 3 am, but a more normal time like 7 or 8.  I've given in to the sleepiness a few times and gone to bed at 3 or 4 pm local time and always wake up at 2/3am wide awake with nothing to do.  My mom was really angry with me when we went to Scotland and I made her go to see some sights without taking a nap the first day.  She was a big cranky pants, but the next day she admitted that she was glad I pushed her, because it put her on a normal schedule.  The same goes for returning home, try to stay up as long as you can if it is not already nighttime so that you can wake up on a regular schedule. 

4)  Google Earth.  I love Google Earth.  I think it's a fantastic travel tool, and I always use it when planning a trip.  Firstly, it can help you get ideas for hotels or apartments since you can actually see what an area really looks like, and virtually walk the streets.  Sometimes a place will look fine in photos, but when you look on Google Earth you may find that the surrounding neighborhood is a little shady or something.  Definitely give it a look and decide if you are comfortable in the area or not.  Secondly, if you have your laptop with you, check Google Earth before heading out to find a location.  I do this a lot before I head out in search of something because it allows you to look for landmarks like perhaps a store with a red awning is right across from that museum you're searching for, or the street is hidden at an oddly curved angle, etc.  It can be hard to only search by street names at times, and I really love to have the visual aids in my mind.  Google Earth reminds me of getting directions from a friend who tells you, "If you pass the pizza place, you've gone too far!"

5) Travel Forums.  If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to post on a travel forum.  I personally love TripAdvisor, you can find so much information on their forums and if you can't find what you're looking for, you can post your own question, whatever it may be. I recommend browsing sites like that before a trip just to get an idea of what the local areas of concern and interest might be

Travel Style Part 1- Accommodation

One of the best things about travel is that you get to do things your way.  We all have different interests and different things we like to focus on when on vacation, so I'm going to share some of my travel methods with you :) This will be broken up into 3 different parts, starting with Part 1, Accommodation.

 

 Flats

When I travel, I always prefer to rent a holiday apartment rather than stay in a hotel. Apartments offer you the chance to really experience a city like a local.  Of course, at the end of the day you're still on vacation, but it's really nice to be able to go home to your apartment in whatever city is playing your home for the time.  Apartments are also usually cheaper than hotels, especially when it comes to longer stays, and I tend to go away for 2 weeks at a time in the summer.  If you plan on staying somewhere for 5/6 nights or more, I would go with an apartment.  In the end, you'll probably end up saving a substantial amount of money, as many landlords offer deals for certain amounts of time (for example, 4 weeks for the price of 3 etc).  You also get much more space in a holiday apartment for the same or less amount of money that you would spend on a hotel.  This of course all depends on the hotels and apartments in question, but I am speaking from my experience. I like having a kitchen and living room in addition to a bedroom. I also like being able to come and go when I like to, since I like to go out at night, and many hotels lock up after a certain time, and then you have to ring the doorbell to be let in, something that always makes me feel like an annoyance to the staff.  If you're looking to try out apartment rentals, just remember to send out many inquiries and then pick from the responses that you receive, since some landlords can take a while to get back to you, or may never respond at all. 

Here's some websites I often use for rentals -

-http://www.homeaway.com

-www.residences-paris.com (I personally know the owner and loved my apartment in Paris)

-https://www.airbnb.com (this year for Paris is my first year using this, but so far everything has been great.  This is a great site if you still want an apartment but are only staying a few nights)

Hotels

I have nothing against hotels, and I use them quite often when I am going somewhere for only a short time.  The other instance in which I use hotels is if a city I am visiting does not offer many rental properties.  Dublin was quite lacking in this area (very few rental options), so I stayed at the O'Callaghan Mont Clare Hotel, and I enjoyed it, but it's never the same as an apartment.  My mom actually prefers hotels because she likes having cleaning and room services available and she also likes having a  front desk to ask for directions to sights etc.  These things are nice to have but aren't as important to me personally.  A hotel also breaks up my feeling of being "in" a city, somewhat.

In the end, what you pick is up to you, and should be based on what you're looking for.  If you want more services, and are staying for a weekend or a few days, a hotel is the way to go.  If you want a more authentic city experience, and are staying for a week or more, go with a holiday rental.  Before long, you'll find what you prefer!

Getting Through Long Flights

We've all been there.  Bored out of our minds on a flight and many hours to go.  Italy is always my long haul, at 8 or 9 hours going and usually 10 coming back.  I love flying, I don't have anxiety or anything, but I get bored after about 2 hours.  So, how can we fight the boredom?  Here's a few of my tricks.

1)  Coloring books.  Yes, coloring books.  It sounds silly, but these are a great way to get through a long flight! Before a trip, I usually make a stop at the store and pick up a Disney or Barbie coloring book and a new pack of crayons.  I love to draw and color and it's nice to be able to get lost in a nostalgic childhood activity for a while.  I never get any weird looks for being an adult with a Barbie coloring book, but even if I did, let them look!  Because in the end, you're the one who's entertained, and they're the ones wishing they brought crayons too!

2)  Books.  I'm an avid reader, and plane time is a great time to catch up on my reading.  If you've been busy with work or school and would like to get lost in a book but haven't had the time, this is it!  I tend to read classics on flights, like The Moonstone, or She and I have no idea why lol it just became a thing I do.  This is also a great time to look over travel books and pick out what you want to see, or study maps a little bit, which is something I always do

3)  Sleep...if you can sleep.  I can never sleep on outgoing flights (going to my vacation destination I mean) because I am usually too excited.  I have tried everything to put myself to sleep including Melatonin, staying up all night the night before the flight (bad idea- I looked a mess and still didn't sleep!), getting too much sleep before a flight (you know how sometimes too much sleep makes you tired?), booze on the plane, booze before the plane, nothing works!  However, on returning flights (going home) I usually sleep the entire way!  I have no explanation for this.  Sleep is probably the best way to get through the flight if you can manage to go out

4)  The in-flight movies.  This sounds obvious, but honestly, I never used to really pay attention to these until I realized that if you watched about 2 of them your flight would be nearly over.  Give them a try if you haven't!

5)  Drawing/writing.  I never travel without a notebook for doodles and poems.  I get the most inspiration when I am forced to stay in one place and think, so a lot of my writing is done on planes

6)  Skincare.  I'm a beauty junkie, so I'm going to do a separate post on this, but protecting your skin against the gross plane air can definitely be time consuming, relaxing, and a nice distraction